On any other day at any other time Jonathon Peterson would have turned left on Claremont Avenue and gone home but on a particular Wednesday of last summer he turned right. That one turn proved to be the most prominent moment of his otherwise ordinary life. That was the day Jonathon met Jane.
Jane was a cute red head with deep emerald, green eyes. Once you noticed her eyes it was hard to remember much else. Certainly, Jonathon couldn’t remember much else. In fact, everything seemed a bit fuzzy in his memory of Jane except that one feature, those deep green eyes.
“Yes sir” the cop said. “You’ve told me twelve times about the girl with red hair and deep green eyes. What were more interested in today is where you bought the fireworks. So, tell me, where exactly did you buy the fireworks? The ones we found stored in your basement.”
“It was her idea.” Jonathon said. “I normally turn left on Claremont but for some reason I turned right and there she was, just standing there hitch hiking. After I picked her up, she asked to go to the beach and so I took her. We just went. Just like that we just went to the beach. It was my first time you know. I’d never been to the beach. The ocean was beautiful. It was my first time seeing the ocean. Did you know it is larger than the entire country?”
Detective Drew looked as his partner. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this. How long have you been questioning him?”
Five Police Officers stood in a small room with one way glass looking into another room with a conference table and several chairs. Two of the officers were looking intently into the room but could have been staring into the distance at a horizon just beyond reach. One was using a white cotton handkerchief to wipe sweat off his brow and around his neck while the other two were studying the man in the room so intently they had eyes for nothing else.
The one who mopped his forehead said. “Five hours, we’ve been questioning him for five hours now.”
Detective Drew shook his head. “Does he talk about anything other than this red head?”
Detective Merle replied. “She’s all he talks about. It doesn’t matter what question you ask, he only talks about the red head with deep emerald, green eyes. Evidently, he’s seen the ocean with her and from there the Grand Canyon, then Mount Rushmore and on and on.”
The more important question was where Jonathon got the fireworks. The entire town was talking about the fireworks. Normally it wouldn’t matter to six police officers, but the mayor was furious. They’d been directed to find the man illegally selling fireworks around town and charge him with illegal distribution of a controlled substance as well as any and all charges related to unlicensed use and distribution of energetic materials. There were half a dozen laws related to these issues but other than illegal possession of fireworks they couldn’t understand what the mayor was talking about.
Detectives Drew and Merle were about to release the man when they received another call from the mayor who became more furious than his previous call. Apparently twelve homes throughout the city exploded and the mayor had determined the fireworks from Jonathon Peterson’s basement were responsible. They were to detain Mr. Peterson as long as possible and find the origin of the fireworks. The Detectives retired to their office cubicle.
Detective Drew began rolling an unlit cigar through his fingers while Detective Merle drummed his fingers on the table. “Isn’t that curious.” Detective Merle voiced. The mayor is suddenly very concerned about low-income housing.”
Detective Drew nodded. “I believe it is. He’s never been concerned about it before. Not to mention he’s solved twelve arson cases for us. We didn’t even need an arson investigator from the Fire Department to determine the cause.”
Detective Merle drummed his fingers on the desk more. “Aren’t three of those twelve homes suspected drug labs. I seem to recall Judge Warner reluctant to issue search warrants for those homes last year. We don’t need a warrant if the Fire department declares them arson sites. What do you think we’ll find in those other nine houses?”
“The part I really don’t understand,” Detective Merle continued, “is what controlled substances and drug labs burning down have to with fireworks in Mr. Peterson’s basement. Aside from the bizarre stories about a red head with green eyes and various vacations that may or may not have happened, I don’t see what a couple boxes of sparklers have to do with anything. I’m not even sure they’re illegal. Don’t they sell those things in drug stores?”
Detective Drew shrugged. “They sell them everywhere. As far as I know they’re not illegal. If he’s been selling them, maybe there’s a sales tax violation but I’m not aware of any criminal code violations for a hundred dollars of sales tax. Besides, we can’t find any evidence he’s sold any. The mayor is the only person saying anything about it. If you ask Peterson in there, he’ll tell you about a red head, green eyes and a trip to South Beach Miami.”
Detective Merle mopped his neck again. “I don’t see how we can keep the guy. The only reason I haven’t released him is he hasn’t asked.”
Detective Drew continued rolling the cigar. “Well, thanks for letting me sleep in so I could miss the grand Tetons or whatever he was talking about before I got here. … What, what’s with the look.?”
Detective Merle slumped his head. “He hasn’t talked about the Tetons. This morning, we started joking about places. On the other side of a sound proofed window mind you. And I’ll be damned if he didn’t go on and on about whatever place we mentioned.”
Suddenly Officer Jones burst into the office. He was shaking his head and muttering. “Where’s the damn coffee? I swear the coffee pot was right here yesterday. … What, what difference does it make which wall it’s on? Never mind. I’ve got to sit a minute and get this junk out of my mind. What the hell do I care about the Grand Tetons? The guy finally shut up and I told Bledsoe; don’t you dare go in that room. If I hear another word about some damn vacation I’m going to strangle the guy. We got about five minutes of peace then the guy starts going on about the Grand Tetons. I had to leave for a cup of coffee or Peterson would be strangled and you guys would be locking me up.”
Detective Merle just looked at Drew and shrugged. “Don’t ask cause I don’t understand it. But whatever you do don’t mention another location even if you’re joking.”
That was when the door flew open again. “You guys have some kind of a syndicate guy or something in here and you didn’t even call. Don’t ever put me in situation where the mayor is yelling and screaming in my office. You got a guy with explosives, making bombs and you don’t bother letting me know. Look, we can’t be dealing with this on our own. We need the ATF, at a minimum. Spill it.”
Detective Drew pointed to Detective Merle. “Merle’s lead on this one. He stumbled into the cash of explosives. He’s got a sample here. Have a look.”
Detective Merle lifted a box from the floor by his desk. “Here, we’ve got a sample of the goods. Have a look.”
The District Attorney threw himself against the wall white faced. “Are you insane, that stuff could go off any minute. We’ve lost eighteen buildings in the last fifteen hours.”
“Eighteen you say.” Detective Merle looked at the DA. “We were only made aware of twelve. Anyway, here’s the bomb you’re so concerned about.” The Detective handed the DA a small box of supermarket style sparklers.”
“Is this supposed to be some kind of joke Merle. You pull this crap on me again and I’ll see you’re retired.”
“Really,” Detective Merle replied. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ve just recently been told about these amazing vacation spots.”
Detective Drew stepped between them. He liked Merle as a partner. It was a pain trying to break in a new partner. “Sir, that’s not a joke. I have no idea what the mayor is going on about. We went to this Jonathon Peterson’s house, looked around, and in the basement, we found a large box of these sparklers. That’s all we found. We brought the guy in for questioning. He’s been sitting here for, I guess five and a half hours now.”
The DA looked at Merle. “Sorry Merle. When you’ve got the mayor in your ear for ten minutes it’s unnerving. Now, what’s this about houses being bombed. Have we talked to the Fire Department about the bombs?”
Detective Merle absently stroked his chin. “We did. They don’t know anything about bombs. They did tell us about twelve self contained fires in twelve houses in three low-income housing neighborhoods. Three of the houses are suspected drug labs. We haven’t heard about the other nine. Could be criminal elements involved or could be families struggling to make a living. There was no one present at any of the twelve houses. We’re trying to run down the owners but it’s still seven in the morning and all this stuff started sometime after midnight. The mayor called us about Jonathon Peterson around two am.”
The DA nodded. “Alright. What about this Peterson guy. What’s he have to say about everything?”
Officer Jones broke in. “You don’t want to know. It’s the most frustrating thing I’ve ever been through. My advice don’t even ask about him. Anyway, Merle my shifts over twenty minutes now. You got several people. Mind if I get home and get some rest? … Thanks, pray I don’t dream about vacations.”
The DA looked at Drew. “What’s that about?”
Detective Drew managed to twirl his cigar in his fingers one last time before it fell apart. “Damn, that cigar cost twenty dollars. —It’s not something that can be explained. Let’s go down and have a look.”
When they opened the observation room door it screeched loud enough the DA cringed. “You guys need to get that fixed.”
“Yeah,” Merle replied. “It’s on the list. The mayor cut the budget again last month. The place is falling apart. Anyway, …”
“What the hell are they doing?” The DA looked at the two police officers studying the wall and caressing it as Jonathan Peters was droning on about the Tetons.
Detective Drew said. “I honestly couldn’t say. What do you think Merle?”
“You know, I believe they’re hypnotized.” Detective Merle clapped his hands loudly to no avail.”
The DA asked, “Can anybody shut that guy up? It’s like a worm tunneling into my brain. What the hell do I care about the Tetons?” The DA immediately felt a buzz on his hip and looked down. “Crap, it’s the mayor again. Let’s get away from this guy. Merle, call the hospital and get a psychiatrist over here. Shut the sound off. That’s better, at least, but Officers Kunkle and Smith are still pawing the wall. Tell them it’s an emergency.”
Detective Merle busied himself calling the hospital while Detective Drew looked up the number to a local hypnotist his daughter had tried for weight loss. He couldn’t tell if it worked for his daughter but she seemed to be happy with it, so something must have worked. His daughter was a beautiful girl, he couldn’t imagine why she needed to lose weight but, what did he know. If the wife said it worked, he paid the bill.”
The DA was down the hall holding the phone about eight inches from his ear. He quickly stomped his foot and motioned the Detectives toward him. All they could hear was cursing and screaming. He pointed at the next conference room where they entered, and he immediately gestured to the recording device. Once it was turned on the DA broke in on the mayor. “Sir, are you sure you should be saying all this? This is my official line, and it’s recorded.”
The mayor cursed and yelled some more. “I don’t give a damn about that. If you want to survive in this town, you’ll erase that damned recording. Right now, you need to get that damn Jonathan Peterson to tell you how he found out about my flop houses and why every damn business I use for money laundering is up in flames. Do you have any idea how much money we’re talking about? This has set me back months. I have partners to answer to. They are not nice people. Get me those answers.”
The DA looked at Detectives Merle and Drew. “You’ve got that recorded right. You know, the mayor is a big funder of state politics. I really don’t know where to go. This is dangerous information. Do you guys know anybody?”
Detective Merle frowned. “I got a guy. He’s out of main Justice in DC. Thing is, the way things are going in DC right now, I’m not sure it will do much good. From what I hear they’re shutting down their public corruption department. I guess they figure it’s more money than it’s worth.”
Detective Drew shook his head. “What are we supposed to do with this mess?”
The DA spoke up. “If you guys can complete the investigation, I’ll put a case together and charge it. I’m not here to be in the criminal business. If I lose my job as a result, so be it.”
Detective Merle sighed. “This case involves direct criminality so maybe they’ll handle it differently. Let me give John a call and ask him.”
A few minutes later Detective Merle had John on the phone. As he went through everything, he mentioned the red-haired girl with emerald, green eyes.
John interrupted. “You said a red-haired girl with emerald, green eyes? … Now this is important. Did the guy say red hair with deep emerald, green eyes? … Okay, did it involve an otherwise ordinary guy with sparklers? … Alright, is the brand of the Sparklers, The Incorruptible Flame?” John began laughing.
The DA interrupted. “This is massive corruption effecting our careers and possibly our safety. What do you think is funny about this?”
John replied. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry for that but unless you want visits from every secret agency in the government, I’d just set aside that tape and wait a month. By then every bit of crime in your city will be cleared out and your ordinary citizen will quit his job and become a travel agent, writer, consultant or something to do with travel. If it doesn’t clear up call me in a month. Until then just play dumb and take routine investigative steps. Welcome to the land of the bizarre. You’re the thirtieth little town so far. Merle, because we’re friends, I’m going to log this call as routine inquiry concerning federal resource availability. If anybody contacts, you I’d just go with that. I’m going to try and spare you the fruitless interrogations and everything else the upper alphabet agencies get up to. Nowadays even the space force is involved. Nobody even knows what those guys do. By the way, the slang term we call this is The Unraveling. By the time three weeks have passed your average citizen will still be talking about travel destinations and your mayor as well as his cohorts will be interred at your state insane asylum. After five months it’ll be over, and you’ll be better for it.
Several months later John retired and moved to a lovely little town in central Iowa. “Merle, I swear I’m going to win one of these days. You shot an eighty-one. I haven’t broken ninety in months.”
Merle smiled, “I’m taking lessons from this red head with deep emerald, green eyes.”
They both laughed as they retired to the club house for lunch.
Joey Feller 